THE RETURN TO BLUE LAGOON
US, 1991, 98 minutes, Colour.
Milla Jovovich, Brian Krause, Lisa Pelikan.
Directed by William A. Graham.
The Return to Blue Lagoon is really a repeat of the Blue Lagoon. It takes up where the original finished but this time the two youngsters are dead and their little boy is rescued? However, cholera breaks out on the ship and the widow of a missionary with her little daughter takes the boy and they go on the open sea. They come back to the blue lagoon - and the story begins again.
However, it is made a little plausible by the fact the mother (Lisa Pelikan) lives and trains them for several years. They grow up in something of the same way as Brooks Shields and Christopher Atkins in the original (and Brian Krause is plausible enough as their son in looks at least - and in California accent). The photography is beautiful, Fijian settings.
Basil Polouderis is again the composer of the score and Randal Kleiser, director of the original, is executive producer for director William. A Graham. The first part of the film is the more plausible with the youngsters and their mother. After that it moves into a drama of pubescent love with the rather bronzed models talking like modern Californians.
1. Entertaining sequel to original? Comparisons? The need for a sequel?
2. Fijian locations, the beauty of the islands, flora and fauna? The lush musical score? The cast, the two stars with their modelling background (and Californian accents)?
3. The title, the original classic film, the original novel (and this film based on a novel sequel by Henry De Vere Stackpole)?
4. The continuity of the film with the original? The sailing ships, the late 19th century, the drifting boat, the parents dead, burial at sea? The rescue of the child? Cholera on board the ship, the decision of the captain? Putting Sarah and the children on the boat, the sailor, his not giving them water, their children crying, his attack and Sarah killing him? The drift to the blue lagoon? The adventure at sea?
5. Settling on the island, finding the home? Richard at home on the island? Sarah's resourcefulness, saving things from the boat, establishing a house hold, teaching the children, their manners and bad manners, their prayers? Their playing together? Washing, the waterfall, the talk about the facts of life? Marriage? The plausibility of this island paradise life? The hut and the water coming in, Sarah's illness, going to her special spot, dictating her headstone, the service? the children burying their mother?
6. The children managing together, growing up into adolescence? Their way of life, playing together, the competition for the eggs, the gift of the pearl? The changes menstruation and Lily communication this to Richard? Her awareness of his sexual changes? The possibility of their getting married - and the ceremony? The tensions between the two - Richard running away, the islanders coming every three months, his watching, letting the islander go? His return? Their happy life?
7. The boat, the confrontation with the crew? The captain, the need for water? Sylvia and her attentions to Richard? The brutal sailor? The native sailors doing the work? The meals, Sylvia teaching them how to dance? Lily? A jealousy? Richard's attentions? Sylvia and Richard in the boat, his not wanting to hurt Lily? Lily and her swimming, the attack by the sailor, the ransacking of the house for the pearl, his attack on her and Richard's rescuing? The fight?
8. Life on the reef, in the water, fishing, pearls? The shark? Richard's swimming and the sailor pursuing him, taken by the shark? The decision to stay on the island? Lily's pregnancy? Sylvia leaving?
9. Life on the island, paradise? Contrasts with civilisation, tension and boredom? Violence and guns? Physical attack? The happy life of Richard and Lily and their young child?
